Ryan Sharkey Joins The CW as Senior VP Programming (Unique)

The CW has discovered its new programming exec.

NBCUniversal alum Ryan Sharkey has joined the Nexstar-controlled broadcast community as senior vp programming and content material technique. Sharkey will report back to CW president of leisure Brad Schwartz and fill the void created by the June departure of Kevin Levy.

Levy, who was with The CW since its launch in 2006, had served as exec vp program planning, scheduling and acquisitions. Whereas Sharkey’s title differs from Levy’s, the function is successfully the identical. Sharkey will lead scheduling and acquisitions groups and be primarily based in New York whereas additionally spearheading the community’s development and its AVOD platform and FAST channels.  

“As The CW explores new content material that may resonate with viewers on each our linear and streaming channels, Ryan is the perfect candidate to guide our programming staff,” stated Schwartz. “With Ryan’s huge expertise in all areas of community scheduling and acquisitions, we’re assured he’ll set The CW up for immeasurable success.”

Sharkey most just lately served as senior vp content material acquisitions at NBCUniversal, the place he curated programming throughout the conglomerate’s portfolio of cable networks, NBC and Peacock. He joined NBC in 2002 after coaching on GE’s company audit workers. He began his profession with NBCU as a monetary analyst chargeable for programming budgets at CNBC, USA Community and Syfy. He labored on pacts that introduced the Harry Potter franchise to Peacock and Trendy Household’s large syndication deal.

“The CW goes via an thrilling transformation, and I’m thrilled to affix the staff at this opportune time to develop the community and its digital platforms right into a worthwhile vacation spot for premier programming,” stated Sharkey. “I sit up for leveraging my long-standing business partnerships, monetary background and artistic dealmaking expertise to boost the extraordinary work Brad and his staff have put into this transition. Brad is an energizing artistic drive, and I can’t wait to accomplice with him.”

Levy opted to exit his publish at The CW in August and was one of many final remaining traces of the community’s Mark Pedowitz regime. Since Nexstar took over majority management of The CW final October, the station group has pushed out all of Pedowitz’s prime lieutenants and canceled all however 4 of its U.S.-produced scripted originals from CBS Studios and Warner Bros. Tv Group, which every retain a 12.5 p.c stake within the younger-skewing community.

Nexstar, with Pop TV grad Schwartz on the helm, is seeking to make The CW worthwhile for the primary time in its historical past. The community, below WB and CBS management, was designed to earn a living for each studios via the gross sales of its lower-cost programming to worldwide patrons and a $1 billion output cope with Netflix. With these income avenues closed amid the necessity to preserve programming for Max and Paramount+, each studios — who every made billions through the community — finally selected to promote it. The CW’s remaining originals — All American and its Homecoming spinoff, Superman & Lois and Walker — are anticipated to air round April. Schwartz has as an alternative targeted on lower-cost acquired packages as he seems to be to scale back spending throughout the board.